The Price of Blood

Location: Tavara – Central Command Bunker

A heavy silence settled in the command room. The lights buzzed faintly overhead, casting elongated shadows on the war maps and glowing surveillance feeds.

Victor stood at the helm table, arms folded, eyes scanning an expanding red zone projected in the heart of Tavara. Nora, dressed in tactical black, leaned beside him, her expression sharp and calculating.

"They've infiltrated three satellite stations," General Hawkins reported, sweat beading on his temple. "Each incident was marked by surgical precision. No trace, no bodies left—just dead systems."

Victor's fingers drummed against the metal table.

"They're not after chaos anymore. They're orchestrating something far bigger," he murmured. "They've stopped reacting. Now they're moving."

Nora's jaw tensed. "They're buying time."

Hawkins frowned. "For what?"

Victor didn't respond immediately. He stared at a blinking red dot hovering near the north quadrant.

"Revenge," he said finally. "Calculated, patient revenge."

---

Location: Tavara – Kane Estate, The Vault

Deep beneath the estate, behind three levels of biometric security and encrypted walls, the Vault of Legacy pulsed with ancient and modern power. It was where the Kane family stored their most valuable secrets—some of them older than Tavara itself.

Victor and Nora descended into the chamber, accompanied by only one guard—Lex, Kane's most trusted silent sentinel.

"This place hasn't been opened since my grandfather's era," Victor muttered, palming the final lock. The door hissed open.

Inside, rows of crystalline tablets, memory cores, and ancient artifacts lined the walls. One particular artifact drew Victor's attention: a silver blade encased in obsidian glass.

"It's here," Victor said quietly.

Nora looked at the weapon. "That blade… is it real?"

Victor nodded. "It was forged in blood and betrayal. The same betrayal that tore apart the original Kane bloodline. My grandfather swore it would never see the light of day again—unless Tavara itself was threatened."

He reached for it, and the glass melted away like mist.

As he gripped the blade, a low hum filled the chamber.

Nora stepped closer. "That blade… It has a name, doesn't it?"

Victor's voice was solemn.

"Vigilant Oath. Forged to remind us: some blood must be spilled not for victory… but for remembrance."

---

Location: Unknown – Mobile Command Unit

Veyra watched the security feeds with surgical calm. The traitor from within the Kane bloodline—Lucien, once a forgotten branch of the family—sat beside her, arms crossed.

"The blade has been awakened," she said, sipping her drink.

Lucien grinned. "Good. Now all the players are ready."

He tapped on a datapad. "Let the price of their bloodline be paid in full."